C. 1830 ANTIQUE PHILADELPHIA FRIENDSHIP ALBUM - WATERCOLOR PAINTINGS CALIGRAPHY
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:7000458 | Original/Facsimile: Original |
This antique Friendship album dates from 1830. Friendship albums became popular in America in the 1820s, as the blossoming culture of sentimentalism made its mark on personal relationships, especially those of young people. Bookmakers created sturdy, thick, leather-bound books expressly for friends to leave emotional tributes. Young women, particularly those finishing their time at a female academy and preparing to leave their school friends, tended to be the ones to create friendship ...albums. This album belonged to Catherine Boyd of Philadelphia. The album is beautifully bound in red morocco leather with a gilt floral border. This is an especially nice album with several lovely watercolor paintings including an exquisite tromp l'oeil painting of a winter scene by William Mason. In the front of the book is an interesting watercolor of a cat and three kittens. This painting is signed "C.B." (probably Catherine Boyd). There is also a colorful watercolor painting of an Italian villa and a grisaille sailboat scene signed "S. Rufus Mason" and dated "1833." There is a beautiful floral painting of a "Double Oleander" and a painting of a vase full of flowers signed "N. Naglee."
In addition to the paintings the book is filled with poetry, most of which is dated "1830." Much of the poetry is done in beautiful handwriting with calligraphic titles. The book has 116 pages (hand numbered in ink, with only the front side of each leaf being used). The 7 3/4 x 9 1/2 inch album was published in New York by E. Bliss 111 Broadway. There are engraved vignettes interspersed throughout the album at the top of the pages. This fine example of an early 19th century Friendship album is in an extremely good state of preservation! As with all my Ebay items I am starting this auction at $9.99 with NO RESERVE!
On Aug-18-19 at 15:41:04 PDT, seller added the following information:It appears this book has been professionally rebacked.
In addition to the paintings the book is filled with poetry, most of which is dated "1830." Much of the poetry is done in beautiful handwriting with calligraphic titles. The book has 116 pages (hand numbered in ink, with only the front side of each leaf being used). The 7 3/4 x 9 1/2 inch album was published in New York by E. Bliss 111 Broadway. There are engraved vignettes interspersed throughout the album at the top of the pages. This fine example of an early 19th century Friendship album is in an extremely good state of preservation! As with all my Ebay items I am starting this auction at $9.99 with NO RESERVE!
On Aug-18-19 at 15:41:04 PDT, seller added the following information:It appears this book has been professionally rebacked.
